Wall structure

ABSTRACT

A PAIR OF DOUBLE WALL RAILS FOR SUPPORTING WINDOW PANES ARE ANGULARLY RELATED AND MEET TO FORM A CORNER. A PAIR OF SIDE-BY-SIDE PANEL CONNECTORS FACING ANOTHER OF SIDE-BY-SIDE PANEL CONNECTORS ARE INTERLOCKED TOGETHER BY MEANS OF A CHANNEL CLIP HAVING EXTENSIONS INSERTABLE INTO ALL FOUR PANELS CONNECTORS TO FORM A BOX-LIKE RIGID CORNER POST SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR THE ANGULARLY RELATED RAILS. A COVER IS PROVIDED FOR CLOSING THE TUP OF THE CORNER POST CONSTRUCTION AND COVER PLATES ARE USED TO ENCLOSE EXPOSED PORTIONS OF SAID CORNER POST.

R. P. LICKLITER ETAL Bw WALL STRUCTURE Jan. 12, 1971 4 Sheets-Sheet lFiled Nov. 20, 1968 RORT P ./CKL/TE? EHRL HBBOTT BY JOH/VF.' REEVES ATTRN'EYS Jan. k2, i971 R. P. I ICKLITER ETAL 3,553,936

WALL STRUCTURE Filed Nov.

4 Sheets-Sheet .2

NVLNIORS ROBE/Q7' PL/C/(L/TER BY EARL ABBOTT' JOHN F- REE VES H3240ATTORNEYS Jan l2, 1971 R. P. LICKLITER ETAL 3,553,916

WALL STRUCTURE Filed Nov.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jilin i|a| r if h *E E Ffl 1 lull! JOHN E REE VES Jan.l2, 1971 R. 1P. LICKLITER ETAL WALL STRUCTURE Filed NOV. 20, 1968:Nvu/11.216 poes/er f? uca/rfa emu neorr 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYSUnited States Patent O 3,553,916 WALL STRUCTURE Robert P. Lickliter andEarl Abbott, Hamburg, and John F. Reeves, Tonawanda, N.Y., assignors toFlangeklamp Corporation, Buffalo, N.Y. Continuation-n-part ofapplication Ser. No. 703,955, Feb. 8, 1968. This application Nov. 20,1968, Ser. No. 777,439

Int. Cl. E04b 2/ 78 U.S. Cl. 52--281 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A pair of double wall rails for supporting window panes areangularly related and meet to form a corner. A pair of side-by-sidepanel connectors facing another pair of side-by-side panel connectorsare interlocked together by means of a channel clip having extensionsinsertable into all four panel connectors to form a box-like rigidcorner post supporting structure for the angularly related rails. Acover is provided for closing the top of the corner post constructionand cover plates are used to enclose exposed portions of said cornerpost.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO A RELATED APPLICATION This application is acontinuation-impart of application er. No. 703,955, filed Feb. 8, 1968on a Wall Structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to theconstruction art, and more particularly to certain new and useful wallpanel constructions having a novel corner post construction andinterlocking means therefor.

Various pre-fabricated, modular arrangements for erecting partition andrail structures are known. Application Serial No. 703,955 disclosespanel support structures in the form of panel connectors maintained inspaced relationship by detachable interlocking spacer elementsinterposed between the panel connectors. A problem is encountered inproviding upstanding corner posts having the requisite stability andstrength to support adjacent Window units, as in bank rail constructionsand the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide acorner post construction providing stability and strength at the cornersof angularly related rail structures.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aninterlocking clip for such a corner post construction.

In carrying out this invention, two pairs of side-by-side panelconnectors are disposed in opposed relationship and detachablyinterlocked by means of a channel clip having extensions insertable intoall four panel connectors to form a rigid corner post construction forangularly related rail structures. The rail structures supportupstanding window panes or other transparent or opaque barriers. A coveris provided for closing the exposed top end of the corner post. Coverplates are used to cover exposed portions of the side Walls of thecorner post.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing featuresof the present invention will become clearly apparent from the ensuingdetailed description of certain illustrative embodiments thereof, takentogether with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numeralsdenote like parts throughout the various views.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES FIG. 1 is a fragmentaryperspective view of a double Wall panel rail constructed in accord withthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, horizontal sectional view, on an enlargedscale, of the corner post construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken about on line 3-3of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken about on line 4 4of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a channel interlocking clip used withthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cover for the top end of the cornerpost of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary detail view showing the rail structure of thisinvention incorporating a Window pane.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings andparticularly to FIG. l, there is shown a wall structure in which anillustrative embodiment of the present invention is incorporated. Thewall structure comprises a double wall panel construction in the form ofa fence or rail having windows extending upwardly therefrom. The doublewall panel rail construction comprises opposed panel members 10 definingopposite wall surfaces extending upwardly from the lloor to the top ofthe rail and which meet to form a corner. For convenience ofdescription, the angularly related rails will be indicated 11 and 13. Inaccordance with this invention, a corner post 12, hereinafter more fullyexplained, located at the juncture of rails 11 and 13 provides therequisite stability and strength for the corner rail structure.

Panels 10 are mounted and supported in properly spaced relation by meansincluding panel connectors, generally designated 14, extending in both avertical and horizontal direction and adapted to receive the side edgeportions of the supported panels 10. Panel connectors 14 can comprise asheet metal fabrication of unitary, one-piece construction formed toprovide a rectangular body portion having front face portions 16 and arear face 18 joined and spaced apart by opposite side faces 20. Faceportions 16 and face 18 are generally parallel and a pair of flangeportions 22 extend outwardly from face portions 16 in a directiongenerally normal thereto, away from face 18. Face portions 16 and flangeportions 22 thereby define a pair of corners adapted to receive the edgeportions of adjacent panel members 101, with panel members 10 restingagainst face portions 16. The metal or other sheet material of whichconnectors 14 are fabri cated also is folded over at the outer end offlange portions 22 to provide cam surfaces 24 leading to opposedshoulder portions 26, the opposite edges of the Sheet materialterminating within the opening provided between flange portions 22, asclearly :shown for example iny FIG. 2.

Connector 14 also is formed to provide an internal channel havinginwardly diverging side walls 30` leading to a rear wall 32 andproviding a restricted inlet opening 34 through face 18. Channel 30-34extends the full length of connector 14 in alignment with the openingbetween flange portions 22, the channel proper being entirely confinedwithin the rectangular body portion 30-34 of the connector as shown.Panel connectors of this type are shown in application Serial No.703,955.

Each panel member 10 (FIG. 1) includes a body 33 of gypsum, wallboard orany other suitable material, covered with a skin 35 of metal or otherthin sheet material which can be'painted or decorated tol provide anydesired effect. Skin 35 extends beyond panel body 33 at its oppositeside edge portions and is formed to provide an inturned skirt adapted tobe inserted between the flange portions 22 of adjacent panel connectors14. The skirts are formed to provide inturned shoulders engaging behindconnector shoulders 26 with a snap fit thereby holding the panel bodies33 against connector face portions 16 as shown in Serial No. 703,955.

Spacer clips 36 (FIGS. 3 and 4) of generally Z-shaped configuration areprovided for maintaining panel connectors 18, whether horizontal orvertical, in properly spaced relation. Spacer clips 36 each comprise aweb body 38 spanning the space between a pair of opposed panelconnectors 14 as shown in FIG. 4 and having at opposite sides thereoflocking heads which lfit within channels 30-34 to interlockingly engagea pair of panel connectors 14 at opposite sides of spaced clip 36.Oppositely directed legs 40 and 42 are provided at opposite ends of body38 and are recessed at the lateral edges thereof as at 44 defining ears46 having bearing surfaces contacting the rear faces 18 of opposed panelconnectors 18. This spacer clip is disclosed in detail in patentapplication Serial No. 777,438 filed simultaneously herewith andassigned to the same assignee as the instant application.

A significant feature of the present invention is the provision ofcorner post 12, which can be readily assembled and dismantled whilepossessing the requisite stability and strength to provide a firm,secure corner wall construction. As shown in FIG. 2, corner post 12comprises a pair of Vertical panel connectors 14 extending side-bysideand disposed in an opposed relationship with another pair of verticalpanel connectors 14 also extending sideby-side. In accordance with thepresent invention, a clip 50 is provided for interlocking the four panelconnectors together. `Clip 50 comprises a body 52 spanning the spacebetween the paired, oppositely facing panel connectors 14. Channel clip50 is generally channel-shaped, being of inverted, generally U-shapedtransverse configuration having opposite side walls 54 which areprovided with extensions 56 at their respective opposite ends.Extensions 56 are adapted to be inserted ywithin channels 30-34 with afriction fit to provide a snug-fitting interlocking engagement betweenchannel clip 50 and panel connectors 14. If desired, more than onechannel clip 50 can be provided and spaced longitudinally along thelengths of panel connectors 14 in the corner post construction.

Paneled rail 11 comprises a pair of opposed panel connectors 14extending horizontally along the upper edge of rail 11 (see FIG. l) forreceiving the upper edges of panel members 10. The ends of horizontallyextending connectors 14 abut the side walls of the vertically extendingconnectors 14 which form corner post 12. As shown in FIG. 3, a pair ofpanel connector clips 60 having right angled flanges 62 overlapping eachother are provided for joining the vertical and horizontal panelconnectors 14 together. Panel connector clips `60 have serrated edges 64insertable in channels 30-34 of connectors 14 so as to secure the samewith a friction fit. FIG. 4 shows a similar panel connector clip 60joining the horizontal connectors 14 of the other right angularlyrelated rail 13 with vertically extending connectors 14 which form aportion or extension of corner post 12.

In providing windows for rails 11 and 13, paired elongated cover plates70 are used each having right angularly related faces 72 and 74, thelatter being provided with a shouldered skirt 76 substantially parallelto face 72 for snap-fitted engagement with the horizontally extendingpanel connectors 14. Faces 72 have inturned flanges 78 extending in adirection normal thereto, the opposed flanges 78 defining a channel forreceiving a resilient elastic seal 80 in which a window pane 82 ismounted. Seal 80 supports window pane 82 and is of a generally U- shapedconfiguration in transverse cross section, having opposite side wallsv84 provided with lips 86 overlapping CII a portion of faces 72 of coverplates 70 and adhesively bonded thereto. Similar cover plates 70 extendvertically along corner post 12 (FIG. 2) adjacent rail 11 and rail 13 tosecure the vertical edges of window pane 82 and to close portions ofcorner post 12. With reference to FIGS. 2 and 4, it will be seen thatrail 13 terminates at the paired panel connectors 14 which constitute anextension of corner post 12 and that identical means are` employed forsecuring a window pane 82 thereto. j

An elongated channel cover plate (FIG. 2) having side walls 92 isprovided for bridging the two outer exposed panel connectors 14 locatedat corner post 12 for closing a portion of the same and presenting asubstantially continuous, attractive, outside wall surface. Walls 92 areformed to provide shouldered skirts 94 for snapfitted engagement behindthe shouldered panel connector flan ge portions 22.

To complete the outside enclosure for corner post 12., an elongatedcover having right angularly related faces 102 and 104 is provided asshown in IFIG. 2. Faces 102 and 104 have flanges 106 and 10S-extendingina direction normal to their respective faces and received betweenshouldered fiange portions 22 of two angularly related panel connectors14 to close corner post 12, ange 106 being shouldered for snap-fitengagement with the associated panel connector.

A feature of the present invention is the provision of a cover 110 forclosing the top ends of corner post 12. Cover 110 is of a substantiallyrectangular shape in plan and has a body 112 adapted to rest on theexposed top end of corner post 12 and a peripheral depending flange 114encompassing the end portions of corner post 12 with a friction fit andabutting the top edges of angularly related window panes 82.

From the foregoing it is seen that the present invention fullyaccomplishes its intended objects and provides an improved double walledrail construction provided with strong, durable window mounting andsealing means. The angularly related rails are joined at a corner postconstruction formed of panel connectors oriented in a reinforced,box-like structure for added strength and rigidity and detachablyinterlocked by means of a channel clip. Covers are placed on the top endand the exposed portions of the panel connectors to provide anattractive corner post having smooth, substantially continuous wallsurfaces.

Illustrative embodiments of this invention having been disclosed, it isto be understood that numerous modifications thereof can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of this invention as defined in theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A corner post construction comprising: a first pair of opposed panelconnectors each having a front face provided with panel connecting meansand a rear face provided with a channel extending lengthwise thereof;first spacer clip means extending between said first pair of panelconnectors and having locking heads enaged in said channels formaintaining said first pair of panel connectors in spaced-apartrelation; a second pair of opposed panel connectors each having a frontface provided with panel connecting means and a rear face provided witha channel extending lengthwise thereof; second spacer clip meansextending between said second pair of panel connectors and havinglocking heads engaged in said channels thereof for maintaining saidsecond pair of panel connectors in spaced-apart relation; and channelclip means comprising a body spanning the space between said panelIconnectors of said first and second pairs thereof and having oppositeside walls each providedV at oppo-site ends thereof with extensionsprojecting beyond said body; said extensions of one of said side wallsbeing engaged in said channels of said first pair of panel con nectorsand said extensions of said other side wall being engaged in saidchannels of said second pair of panel connectors, thereby to hold saidrst and second pairs of panel connectors in side-by-side relation.

2. A vertical corner post construction as set forth in claim 1, togetherwith a horizontally extending third pair of opposed panel connectorseach having a front face provided with panel connecting means and a rearface provided with a channel extending lengthwise thereof; third spacerclip means extending between said third pair of panel connectors andhaving locking heads engaged in said channels thereof for maintainingsaid third pair of panel connectors in spaced-apart relation; and meansjoining said second and third pairs of panel connectors.

3. A corner post construction according to claim 2 together with a pairof cover plates having means interlocking with said opposed horizontallyextending panel connectors, said cover plates having opposed facesdefining a horizontally extending groove, and means disposed in saidgroove for receiving an edge of a window pane.

4. Supporting means according to claim 3 wherein said receiving meanscomprises an elastic, yieldable gasket of a generally U-shapedconfiguration in transverse section having opposite walls provided withlips extending in opposite directions normal to said opposite walls,said opposite walls abutting said opposed faces and said lips partiallyoverlying said cover plates.

5. A vertical Icorner post construction as set forth in claim 2, whereinsaid joining means comprise panel connector clips having right angledflanges arranged in overlapping relation; said panel connector clipseach having serrated edges, the serrated edges of one of said panelconnector clips being engaged in the channels of said third pair ofpanel connectors and the serrated edges of the other of said panelconnector clips being engaged in the channels of said second pair ofpanel connectors.

6. A corner post construction according to claim 1 together with a pairof cover plates having means interlocking with certain of said opposedpanel connectors, said cover plates having opposed faces dening avertically extending groove and means disposed in said i groove forreceiving an end of a window pane.

7. A corner post construction according to claim 6 wherein saidreceiving means comprises an elastic gasket of a generally U-shapedconfiguration in transverse section.

8. A corner post construction according to claim 1 including platescovering exposed portions of said corner post construction to form acorner post having substantially continuous side walls.

9. A corner post construction according to claim 1 including a cover forenclosing the exposed ends of said panel connectors.

10. A corner post construction :as set forth in claim 1, each of saidpanel connectors comprising an elongated body member of generallyrectangular configuration providing a pair of generally parallelspaced-apart front and rear faces and a pair of side faces extendingtherebetween, said panel connecting means comprising a pair of generallyparallel flanges extending from each of said front faces in a directiongenerally normal thereto and away from said rear face of the associatedpanel connector, and means providing shoulders on said ilanges forinterlocking with shouldered attaching means, each of said channelsbeing disposed within the generally rectangular configuration of theassociated body member and opening through said rear face thereof.

11. A corner post construction as set forth in claim 10, each of saidpanel connectors comprising a one-piece unitary construction of sheetmaterial, the opposite edges of said material 'forming said shouldersand terminating within the opening between said anges.

12. A corner post construction as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rstand second spacer clip means comprise spacer clips of generally Z-shapedconfiguration each comprising a web body spanning the space between oneof said pairs of opposed panel connectors and being provided with saidlocking heads at opposite sides thereof, each of said spacer clipsfurther comprising oppositely directed legs at opposite ends of said webbody thereof and having bearing surfaces contacting the rear faces ofthe pair of panel connectors held together by said spacer clips.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,339,360 5/1920 Leonard 52-3491,946,560 2/1934 Wick 52-281X 2,101,952 12/1937 Olsen 52-242 2,227,4521/ 1941 Jullien 52-493 2,132,601 10/1938 Bell 52-217X 2,397,940 4/ 1946Benham 52-493X 2,412,404 12/ 1946 Jackson 52--493X 2,566,622 9/1951Millier 52-690 2,667,241 1/ 1954 Shannon 52-731X 3,040,847 6/ 1962Webster 52-400 3,381,438 5/1968 Bohnsack 52-481 FOREIGN PATENTS1,250,320 11/1960 France 52-493 ALFRED C. PERHAM, Primary Examiner U.S.Cl. XR.

